BMW iX3 Website Could Be Hinting at a Different Model
The official BMW iX3 website features animations highlighting the SUV’s driver-assistance technology, but the visuals unexpectedly depict an unidentified electric four-door sedan.
BMW iX3 marks just the beginning of the brand’s rollout of vehicles built on its cutting-edge Neue Klasse modular platform. Confirmed models already include a next-generation 3 Series, which will be offered in both combustion and fully electric i3 variants, along with an upcoming X5. However, what remains a mystery is a four-door sedan—seemingly unrelated to the 3 Series—that recently surfaced on BMW’s German consumer site, first noticed by the team at BMWBlog.
Is BMW Teasing Another Model Through the iX3?
In promotional animations for the BMW iX3 advanced driver-assistance systems—including active lane-change assistance and 3D parking—a sleek four-door sedan makes a surprise appearance. The mystery car borrows design elements seen in other Neue Klasse concepts, such as the low-slung window line from the Vision Driving Experience and the sculpted front and rear ends expected on the next 3 and 5 Series sedans. Yet, its broad kidney grille and windshield extending deep into the hood evoke the discontinued i8 more than any confirmed future BMW model.
As a result, it’s unclear whether the animations are actually teasing a future BMW or simply serving as filler. Using a computer-generated stand-in feels odd, especially since these visuals don’t appear elsewhere in BMW’s media library—one might expect the brand to showcase a digital model of the BMW iX3 itself. Given the mix of borrowed styling cues, however, it seems more likely that this sleek sedan is nothing more than a placeholder rather than a preview of an upcoming production car.
Neue Klasse: A High-Tech Foundation
BMW’s latest vehicle architecture—reviving the historic “New Class” nameplate first introduced in 1962—packs a wealth of cutting-edge technology. Designed to be powertrain-flexible, the Neue Klasse platform can support internal combustion, hybrid, and fully electric drivetrains. Its open-body construction, built without a fixed floor, allows greater adaptability. For hybrid and EV configurations, the battery integrates directly into the structure, doubling as part of the floor itself. This approach not only boosts rigidity but also trims weight and simplifies production.
In the BMW iX3 case—mechanically distinct from the similarly named X3 combustion SUV—the electronics have been dramatically streamlined. Instead of relying on around 20 traditional ECUs, the system is powered by four high-performance “superbrain” computers. These units communicate wirelessly, eliminating the need for nearly 2,000 feet of copper wiring typically found in comparable SUVs, further cutting weight and complexity.
The BMW iX3 is slated to hit U.S. showrooms next summer, arriving as a 2027 model. BMW expects the base version to start at under $60,000 while delivering up to 400 miles of range. A more affordable variant will follow in early 2027, priced below $55,000 with an estimated 300-mile range. Together, the two trims position the iX3 as a strong rival to the Polestar 4, Audi Q6 e-tron, and Tesla Model Y—none of which can currently match the range of BMW’s flagship version.
